Ecology-and-environment / Biodiversity & Biodiversity Conservation / What is Marine Protected Area?
What is Marine Protected Area?
- A marine protected area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land. These places are given special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities.
List of Marine Protected Areas in Peninsular India
| S.No. | State/UT | Name of MPA | Legal Status | Area | Year of Notificaion |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Coringa | Sanctuary | 235.70 | 1978 |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | Krishna | Sanctuary | 194.81 | 1989 |
| 3 | Andhra Pradesh | Pulicat Lake | Sanctuary | 600.00 | 1980 |
| 4 | Daman & Diu | Fudam | Sanctuary | 2.18 | 1991 |
| 5 | Goa | Chorao Island | Sanctuary | 1.78 | 1988 |
| 6 | Gujarat | Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) | National Park | 162.89 | 1995 |
| 7 | Gujarat | Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) | Sanctuary | 295.03 | 1980 |
| 8 | Gujarat | Khijadia | Sanctuary | 6.05 | 1981 |
| 9 | Kerala | Kadalundi Vallikkunnu | Community Reserve | 1.50 | 2007 |
| 10 | Maharashtra | Malvan Marine | Sanctuary | 29.12 | 1987 |
| 11 | Maharashtra | Thane Creek Flamingo | Sanctuary | 16.905 | 2015 |
| 12 | Odisha | Bhitarkanika | National Park | 145.00 | 1998 |
| 13 | Odisha | Bhitarkanika | Sanctuary | 525.00 | 1975 |
| 14 | Odisha | Chilka (Nalaban) | Sanctuary | 15.53 | 1987 |
| 15 | Odisha | Gahirmatha | Sanctuary | 1435.00 | 1997 |
| 16 | Odisha | Balukhand Konark | Sanctuary | 71.72 | 1984 |
| 17 | Tamil Nadu | Gulf of Mannar Marine | National Park | 526.02 | 1980 |
| 18 | Tamil Nadu | Point Calimere | Sanctuary | 17.26 | 1967 |
| 19 | Tamil Nadu | Pulicat Lake | Sanctuary | 153.67 | 1980 |
| 20 | Tamil Nadu | Pulicat Lake Block-A & Block-B | Sanctuary | 124.0727 | 2013 |
| 21 | West Bengal | Sundarbans | National Park | 1330.10 | 1984 |
| 22 | West Bengal | West Sundarbans | Sanctuary | 556.45 | 2013 |
| 23 | West Bengal | Haliday Island | Sanctuary | 5.95 | 1976 |
| 24 | West Bengal | Sajnakhali | Sanctuary | 362.40 | 1976 |
| 25 | West Bengal | Lothian Island | Sanctuary | 38.00 | 1976 |
| Total Area | 6852.14 |
List of Marine Protected Areas in Islands of India
| S.No. | Name of MPA | Legal Status | Area of MPA | Year of Notification |
| Andaman & Nicobars Islands |
| Campbell Bay | National Park | 426.23 | 1992 | |
| Galathea Bay | National Park | 110.00 | 1992 | |
| Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) | National Park | 281.50 | 1983 | |
| Mount Harriett | National Park | 46.62 | 1987 | |
| Rani Jhansi Marine | National Park | 320.06 | 1996 | |
| Saddle Peak | National Park | 32.54 | 1987 | |
| Arial Island | Sanctuary | 0.05 | 1987 | |
| Bamboo Island | Sanctuary | 0.05 | 1987 | |
| Barren Island | Sanctuary | 8.10 | 1987 | |
| Battimalv Island | Sanctuary | 2.23 | 1987 | |
| Belle Island | Sanctuary | 0.08 | 1987 | |
| Benett Island | Sanctuary | 3.46 | 1987 | |
| Bingham Island | Sanctuary | 0.08 | 1987 | |
| Blister Island | Sanctuary | 0.26 | 1987 | |
| Bluff Island | Sanctuary | 1.14 | 1987 | |
| Bondoville Island | Sanctuary | 2.55 | 1987 | |
| Brush Island | Sanctuary | 0.23 | 1987 | |
| Buchanan Island | Sanctuary | 9.33 | 1987 | |
| Chanel Island | Sanctuary | 0.13 | 1987 | |
| Cinque Islands | Sanctuary | 9.51 | 1987 | |
| Clyde Island | Sanctuary | 0.54 | 1987 | |
| Cone Island | Sanctuary | 0.65 | 1987 | |
| Curlew (B.P.) Island | Sanctuary | 0.16 | 1987 | |
| Curlew Island | Sanctuary | 0.03 | 1987 | |
| Cuthbert Bay | Sanctuary | 5.82 | 1997 | |
| Defence Island | Sanctuary | 10.49 | 1987 | |
| Dot Island | Sanctuary | 0.13 | 1987 | |
| Duncan Island | Sanctuary | 0.73 | 1987 | |
| East Island | Sanctuary | 6.11 | 1987 | |
| East of Inglis Island | Sanctuary | 3.55 | 1987 | |
| Egg Island | Sanctuary | 0.05 | 1987 | |
| Elat Island | Sanctuary | 9.36 | 1987 | |
| Entrance Island | Sanctuary | 0.96 | 1987 | |
| Gander Island | Sanctuary | 0.05 | 1987 | |
| Girjan Island | Sanctuary | 0.16 | 1987 | |
| Goose Island | Sanctuary | 0.01 | 1987 | |
| Hump Island | Sanctuary | 0.47 | 1987 | |
| Interview Island | Sanctuary | 133.87 | 1987 | |
| James Island | Sanctuary | 2.10 | 1987 | |
| Jungle Island | Sanctuary | 0.52 | 1987 | |
| Kwangtung Island | Sanctuary | 0.57 | 1987 | |
| Kyd Island | Sanctuary | 8.00 | 1987 | |
| Landfall Island | Sanctuary | 29.48 | 1987 | |
| Latouche Island | Sanctuary | 0.96 | 1987 | |
| Lohabarrack (Saltwater Crocodile) | Sanctuary | 22.21 | 1987 | |
| Mangrove Island | Sanctuary | 0.39 | 1987 | |
| Mask Island | Sanctuary | 0.78 | 1987 | |
| Mayo Island | Sanctuary | 0.10 | 1987 | |
| Montogemery Island | Sanctuary | 0.21 | 1987 | |
| Narcondam Island | Sanctuary | 6.81 | 1987 | |
| North Brother Island | Sanctuary | 0.75 | 1987 | |
| North Island | Sanctuary | 0.49 | 1987 | |
| North Reef Island | Sanctuary | 3.48 | 1987 | |
| Oliver Island | Sanctuary | 0.16 | 1987 | |
| Orchid Island | Sanctuary | 0.10 | 1987 | |
| Ox Island | Sanctuary | 0.13 | 1987 | |
| Oyster Island-I | Sanctuary | 0.08 | 1987 | |
| Oyster Island-II | Sanctuary | 0.21 | 1987 | |
| Paget Island | Sanctuary | 7.36 | 1987 | |
| Parkinson Island | Sanctuary | 0.34 | 1987 | |
| Passage Island | Sanctuary | 0.62 | 1987 | |
| Patric Island | Sanctuary | 0.13 | 1987 | |
| Peacock Island | Sanctuary | 0.62 | 1987 | |
| Pitman Island | Sanctuary | 1.37 | 1987 | |
| Point Island | Sanctuary | 3.07 | 1987 | |
| Potanma Islands | Sanctuary | 0.16 | 1987 | |
| Ranger Island | Sanctuary | 4.26 | 1987 | |
| Reef Island | Sanctuary | 1.74 | 1987 | |
| Roper Island | Sanctuary | 1.46 | 1987 | |
| Ross Island | Sanctuary | 1.01 | 1987 | |
| Rowe Island | Sanctuary | 0.01 | 1987 | |
| Sandy Island | Sanctuary | 1.58 | 1987 | |
| Sea Serpent Island | Sanctuary | 0.78 | 1987 | |
| Shark Island | Sanctuary | 0.60 | 1987 | |
| Shearme Island | Sanctuary | 7.85 | 1987 | |
| Sir Hugh Rose Island | Sanctuary | 1.06 | 1987 | |
| Sisters Island | Sanctuary | 0.36 | 1987 | |
| Snake Island-I | Sanctuary | 0.73 | 1987 | |
| Snake Island-II | Sanctuary | 0.03 | 1987 | |
| South Brother Island | Sanctuary | 1.24 | 1987 | |
| South Reef Island | Sanctuary | 1.17 | 1987 | |
| South Sentinel Island | Sanctuary | 1.61 | 1987 | |
| Spike Island-I | Sanctuary | 0.42 | 1987 | |
| Spike Island-II | Sanctuary | 11.70 | 1987 | |
| Stoat Island | Sanctuary | 0.44 | 1987 | |
| Surat Island | Sanctuary | 0.31 | 1987 | |
| Swamp Island | Sanctuary | 4.09 | 1987 | |
| Table (Delgarno) Island | Sanctuary | 2.29 | 1987 | |
| Table (Excelsior) Island | Sanctuary | 1.69 | 1987 | |
| Talabaicha Island | Sanctuary | 3.21 | 1987 | |
| Temple Island | Sanctuary | 1.04 | 1987 | |
| Tillongchang Island | Sanctuary | 16.83 | 1985 | |
| Tree Island | Sanctuary | 0.03 | 1987 | |
| Trilby Island | Sanctuary | 0.96 | 1987 | |
| Tuft Island | Sanctuary | 0.29 | 1987 | |
| Turtle Islands | Sanctuary | 0.39 | 1987 | |
| West Island | Sanctuary | 6.40 | 1987 | |
| Wharf Island | Sanctuary | 0.11 | 1987 | |
| White Cliff Island | Sanctuary | 0.47 | 1987 |
| Total Area | 1594.78 |
| Lakshadweep |
| 1 | Pitti | Sanctuary | 0.01 | 2002 |
| 2 | A. Attakoya Thangal Marine | Conservation Reserve | 40.00 | 2019 |
| 3 | Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber | Conservation Reserve | 172.59 | 2019 |
| 4 | P.M. Sayeed Marine Birds | Conservation Reserve | 57.46 | 2019 |
| Total Area | 270.06 | |
| Grand Total Area | 1864.84 |
